💡📝Erez Schatz wrote on Sun, Jul 3, 2005 08:32 AM UTC:
A learning curve is the amount of time and effort one has to invest in
order to 'get the grip' of a game. Mind you, we are not talking about
mastering it or becoming well adept, just how long until you can play the
game without having to screen the rules for every rule and missing attack
lines etc. A game with a high learning curve is a difficult game to learn
(like Chu-Shogi), while a shallow curve means it's a 'pick up and play'
kind of game (Smess comes to mind).
Another thing to consider is 'who is your target audience'. Whether you
direct your variant to a target audience that is new to chess, or to
players who know chess, but are not familiar with variants, or to those
who are familiar with both. The expected learning curve changes
accordingly.